Counseling Specializations and Multidisciplinary Teams

Counseling Specializations and Multidisciplinary Teams

10.22.2016

                                        Abstract

In this paper I will discuss different aspects of professional counseling and my specialization of mental health counseling. I will also describe how this profession focuses on key philosophies of wellness, resilience, prevention and a brief historical perspective based on these philosophies. There will be an overview of how the IS-Wel model of wellness is used to empower the client to use their own strengths and limitations as a starting point in wellness counseling. I will discuss addictions counseling, collaboration with other specialties and how co-occurring disorders can be addressed within the dual specialization of mental health counseling and addictions counseling.

   Impact of a Wellness Model

 The IS-Wel model of wellness is one theoretical model of wellness counseling. It is based on the premise that the self is central and the core of wellness. Surrounding the core are five other factors that include the creative self, coping self, essential self and physical self. As stated by Myers, 2015), “the main components of the IS-Wel model are the singular higher order factor of Wellness and five second-order factors of the self: (1) Creative Self, (2) Coping Self, (3) Social Self, (4) Essential Self, and (5) Physical Self” (p. 4). This model can give the counselor multiple areas of focus to work on and introduce the wellness model to the client, give an assessment, develop a plan and schedule follow-ups. The counselor can ask the client which areas they want to work on and expand on the information the client gives during the session. In between meeting the client can also further reflect on a timeline to reach certain goals and incorporate it in the plan with the counselor (Myers, 2015).

Historical Perspective of Key Philosophies

The counseling profession dates back to the late 1800’s and made many advancements through the 19th century starting with the progressive guidance movement. What sets counseling apart from other closely related fields is the idea that the client themselves are the best catalyst for change. The biggest event focusing on the shift to client centered counseling was around 1950 with Carl Rogers. His contributions to humanistic psychology were significant and in placing responsibility on the client for growth and change (Gladding, 2013). Many features of this type of counseling were adapted as the key philosophies used as the counseling field continued to develop. (As cited in Rak & Patterson 1996), The Random House Dictionary (1968, p. 1123) says that resiliency is "the power or ability return to the original form or position after being bent, compressed, or stretched." Alternatively, it is "the ability to recover readily from illness, depression, adversity, or the like” (p. 368). Wellness is said to be a positive state of well-being (Myers & Sweeney, 2008, p. 482). Prevention is said to stop new cases of mental, emotional or behavioral issues (Conyne, 2015). When applying these key philosophies, the counselor can utilize interventions with strength based counseling and allow the client to develop their own strategies for success. Together they can work at overcoming the client’s obstacles they face and together they can create a treatment plan for growth and success.

Key Concepts of Preferred Specialization

 Mental health counseling started to gain some ground in the 1970’s. Although counselors had no real clear identity, things started to change with the birth of the AMHCA. In the early 1980’s training standards and a code of ethics made counseling distinguishable from other mental health professions and specializations. In 1981 CACREP became the accreditation body for counselor education programs (Kaplan & Gladding, 2014). In 2005, 20/20: A Vision for the Future of Counseling brought together a plan to address 22 different issues still unresolved in the counseling field. By the time this project ended in 2013 there was a 97% consensus for addressing these problems and finally an agreed upon definition of what counseling is, was attained. Only school counselors would not agree on this moving forward. Today all 50 states have licensure and mental health counseling has become a recognized and respected profession. (Kaplan & Gladding, 2014).

Key Concepts of another Specialization

Another specialization that has a need for mental health counselors and vice versa is addictions counseling. CACREP recently added addictions counseling to the specializations offered in CACREP programs. There are two national credentials for addictions counselors and a credential at state level also. Since most counselors in the addictions field do not have a master’s degree, there is a high need for professional mental health counselors to be on site or working closely with that agency. Often times a client will have a dual diagnosis and cannot get both services without a professional mental health counselor involved (Astramovich & Hoskins, 2013).

Collaboration between Specializations

The mental health counselor can address the diagnosis of the client for that disorder. The addictions counselor will most likely be using different criteria like the ASAM (American Society of Addiction Medicine). Each diagnosis and treatment plan is of equal value regardless of the credentials of the counselor. The goal is positive outcomes for the client. Most counselors can exchange records electronically and now for the first time the ASAM has launched an electronic version of their intake process.  This new program allows for easier and more accurate assessments for both counselors. Often times the client may be denied services due to going through addictions treatment to many times. This new system for intakes helps avoid that. This in turn helps the mental health counselor because they don’t do an assessment just to get denied due to issues from the other agency. Integration of both counselors providing adequate services is an important part of working together with other professionals. As advancement in technology increases, the ability to serve the client becomes better for all involved (Miller 2015).